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The first test for the Windsor Express was a failure.
The first test for the Windsor Express was a failure.
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After moving into first place in the Basketball Super League, Windsor faced its first challenge as the team to beat with the No. 1 target on Thursday.
A disastrous second quarter saw the Express fall behind by more than 20 points. Despite getting back to within four in the second half, Windsor faded down the stretch in a 115-99 loss to the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans at the WFCU Centre.
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“It’s a little frustrating, but we know when you’re at the top and No. 1 that people are going to come for you,” Express centre Will Brown said. “They’re going to come out there playing hard to show they’re a better team.”
After starting the season with back-to-back losses, the Express reeled off 10 wins in 11 games to move into first place in the league. Thursday was a chance to open some space in the standings. Instead, the Express (10-4) are now just a half game up on the Sudbury Five (10-5) and the Titans (11-6).
“It’s a different approach,” Express head coach Bill Jones said. “When you’re in the middle of the pack or you’re climbing the mountain, you’re viewed different. Now, everybody’s shooting for us.
“Every day, you’re going to get their best shot. We can’t be cool and think that if we just show up we’re going to be successful, especially at home where we’ve been successful. We’ve got to get guys that understand it’s done on the floor.”
Windsor got little bench support on Wednesday and when Jones looked to rest his starters in the second quarter, the Titans pulled away.
“We played (our bench) a little in second quarter and that’s when we lost our lead and they were able to go at us,” said Jones, whose saw his bench players outscored 34-6. “We tried to stay with our regular guys in the second half and maybe they got tired. That’s something we have to address.”
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A Latin Davis layup pulled the Express to within four points early in the four quarter, but the Titans answered with the next nine points to reopen a double-digit lead and Windsor never challenged again.
“Now that we’re in the No. 1 spot, we know teams are going to come play hard against us every night,” said Davis, who finished with 24 points. “It’s my job as a leader to make sure we’re prepared every night and we go out there and play hard.
“Second quarter, we got a little lax and they made a big run. We just wanted to make sure we came out in the second half and punched hard and try to make a run. We made a run, cut it to four and let it go. Just one of those nights. We’re not going to let this loss define us.”
The Express got a 36-point performance from Tray Maddox Jr., who led all game scorers. Mike Bruce finished with 19 points while Brown had 11 rebounds and Cameron Gaines added 10 rebounds.
“Once you go down so much, you’re just digging a hole and it’s hard to comeback,” Brown said. “If we had had that run and not been down so much, we may have won the game.
“That happens, it comes with the game. You’re going to have good days and bad days. Some tougher than others and you can’t win them all. If you don’t lose, you don’t know how to learn from it.”
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